Combined crank-shaft and differential gear



S. E. ALLEY AND A. THOMSON.

COMBINED CRANK SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL GEAR.

APPLICATION mm SEPT. 15. 1920.

1,881,781, Patented June 1 1 ,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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poMBmEn CRANK SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL GEAR APPLICATION FILEDSEPT-151L920- 1,381,781. Patented June 14, 1921.

F I 1 2 ZSHEETSQSHEET 2.

STEPHEN E. ELLE HRTHUE' THoMSoM v-TOR' E KS STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY ANDARTHUR THOMSON, OF SHREWSBURY, ENGLAND,

COMBINED CRANK-SHAFT AN D DIFFERENTIAL GEAR.

- Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Ju 14 1921 Applicationfiled September 15, 1920. Serial No. 410,528.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY and ARTHUR THOMSON, subjects ofthe King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residents of Shrewsbury, inthe county of Salop, England, have invented a certain new and usefulImproved Combined Crank-Shaft and Differential Gear, of which thefollowing is the specification.

The invention relates to crank-shafts with which are so combined trainsof differential gearing that transmission members at the ends of theshaft are capable of transmitting differential motion, and has for 1tsobject to provide a simple, effective and easily constructed arrangementof such a kind that the bearings of the pinion shafts, crank shaft andend shafts are solidly supported.-

According to the invention, the crankshaft is of the type having twocrank pins at right angles to one another. Its end shaft members arehollow, and Within them are carried differential shafts each exten dinginward through the adjacent web of a crank and bearing close to theinner face of that crank web a pinion. The crank pins are hollow, andthese primary pinions extend into gaps cut to receive them in the innerperipheral walls of the crank pins. Within the hollow crank pins arespindles having formed near their outer ends pinions which gear with theprimary pinions through the gaps in the pin peripheries. Beyond thepinions, the spindles may have heads which fit within and serve asbearing surfaces and as closures to counterbores in the crank pins andwebs in which the pinions lie.

The inner and adjacent ends of the two spindles extend toward oneanother beyond the respective inner crank webs and bear pinions whichmesh with one another be tween the two cranks. At this point in theshaft, a third crank is formed at such an angle as to clear theintermeshing pinions.

Alternatively, the two cranks may be made separate and bolted together.

An example of a differential crank-shaft made according to the inventionis shown on two accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure 1, Sheet1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a transversesectional elevation on the line aa of supported along with those membersin bear-- ings J, K, and carrying at their outer ends sprocket wheelsone L of which is shown. The adjacent ends of the crank pins A, B, arejoined by a web member N, while there are applied to the websC, D,balance weights 0, P, supported by stirrups R.- j

The differential shafts G, H, extend inward through the crank webs C, D,and carry at their inner ends differential pinions S, T.

These pinions S, T, mesh through gaps cut in the inner peripheries ofthe crank pins A, B, with pinions V formed on shafts W lying within thehollow crank pins A, B. These shafts W extend toward one another andbear at their adjacent ends pinions X, Y, of such diameter that theymesh with one anothenthe intermediate web member N bemg formed with agap Z to receive them.

W hat we claim is j 1. A combined crank-shaft and differential gearhaving two crank pins at right angles and comprising hollow end-shaftmembers within which are differential shafts having on their inner ends,and within the crank webs, pinions meshing through gaps in the innerperipheries of the hollow crank pins with pinions formed on shafts lyingwithin the pins and having at their inner ends intermeshing pinionsaccommodated in a gapped web member connecting the adj acent ends of thetwo crank pins.

2. In the crank-shaft and differential gear forming the subject-matterof claim 1 hereof, balance weights held upon the outer crank webs bystirrups, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY. ARTHUR THOMSON.

